PSYCHOPATH

chapter 23: devilman crybaby

Chapter 23: DEVILMAN CRYBABY

~ "but what if she loves her mistakes more than her life?" ~

-chelsea hodson

Nobody suspected a thing when Agent Ella Grant was joined in the alleyway by the reinforcements she had called in and declared to them that the Code Killer had gotten away. Again.

"I had him right there," she'd said to someone, "but then he turned a corner and I lost him."

No one faulted her. She had been alone after all and in pursuit, on bare feet, in the rain and in the dark. Less than perfect conditions for an apprehension. No, not a single soul in the entire FBI placed any blame whatsoever on Ella for one of their most wanted having evaded capture yet again. Because this time, they had a name and a face. The Code Killer was not so anonymous anymore. Questions were being answered. He was no longer some specter of carnage, but simply a man.

Despite it being the second time Ella was caught half-naked in pajamas and with the Code Killer coincidentally just out of her grasp, no one batted an eye. It was clear that Ella fought against him. She had the concussion and bloody feet to prove it. She had the obvious signs of a struggle at the church to prove it.

Ella would be okay; she knew that at heart. Watching the puddles of blood washing away into the sewer drains, Ella could only hope that Berlin would get through it too. Stay alive asshole. I didn't risk my neck out here for nothing.

"I want a team at the church and at Berlin Morgan's residence. Search everything. Collect everything." James Grey was barking orders left and right the instant he came onto the scene. "Ella also said she had a feeling he had just killed someone; we need another team searching for a body. I want the city under lockdown but don't make a public statement about it. He might try and run tonight, and I don't want people to panic, that's just going to make us look worse if we don't catch him."

Standing there in the rain, Seth shielded her with his umbrella. Harry wrapped her up in his own jacket. James Grey called for medics to see to her, eyeing her rattled appearance, the distress seeping from the lines in her face, the bruises slowly forming on her skin. Ella was relieved to see they didn't prod her as much as she expected. She shivered, trembled, bit her lip, relishing in the sight of the team crowding around her with concern. It was easy, and also disappointing in a way. Yes, in their eyes, she was just a brilliant, lovely, perfect woman with no secrets at all. No one gave her any glares or nasty looks.

No, their gazes turned to William.

William Morgan would not be able to get out of it without incriminating himself, since it was his brother. So, he did the only thing he could do. Lie.

He condemned his own brother.

Knowing Will by now, Ella already knew he was going to get out of it without even breaking a sweat. There was no evidence that the brothers had conspired together, there was nothing Ella could offer besides her own held beliefs and Beatrice's alleged testimony. Ella sat there, watching him with glassy eyes as he weaved a story of treachery, heartbreak, and disbelief. She didn't have any heart in her left to feel betrayed, because she wasn't much better than him.

There was nothing in her anymore to feel much of anything. All Ella could do was acknowledge the fact that for all this time, they had worked alongside each other...and this is who the great genius William Morgan turned out to be. How disappointing.

"I can't really fathom this. It was never a possibility I could ever consider, and because of that – well...it's probably why this case has been going on so long. I would have figured it out sooner if this was something I could imagine happening." Ella stared at William, marginally horrified by the ease with which he weaved his tale. He even turned to Ella to offer his own apology. "I'm sorry Ella. For everything. This is my fault."